History of Chanel - Page 2
Coso's love affairs with two rich and generous men – a military officer and a British industrialist – made it possible for her to gather enough resources to start her own shop for Parisian women and thereby starting the history of Chanel. Her shop was opened in 1909 and was focused on selling ladies hats. Her business was a success and she was soon able to move her shop to the fashionable Rue Cambon.
Coco Chanel then began experimenting with couture garments for women and by the 1920s she was an established name in the French fashion world. Chemises designed by Coco Chanel became the height of fashion and Coco had set her first major fashion trend – the little boy look. Her collections had a causal but elegant look and included very modern garments such as short skirts. Coco Chanel is also famous for her much celebrated perfume, the legendary Chanel No. 5. This perfume was launched in 1922 and is still extremely popular and the most well-known product in the history of Chanel.
In 1924, Coco Chanel teamed up with a man named Pierre Wertheimer. Wertheimer owned 70 percent of the perfume company, while Coco Chanel kept 10 percent of the shares. The rest of the perfume company was owned by one of Coco Chanel's friends, a Mr. Bader.
In 1925, another important year in the history of Chanel, Coco Chanel released her renowned cardigan jacket. One year later, she began to market the “little black dress” as the perfect garment for every woman. Chic black dresses had naturally existed before, but Coco Chanel was the one who pointed out how they could fit almost any occasion and be varied endlessly by the use of simple accessories. Coco Chanel is also the mastermind behind the extremely influential Chanel suit for women. A traditional Chanel suit consists of a knee-length skirt combined with a strict boxy jacket. This suit is traditionally made from woven wool and is topped of with gold buttons and a black trim. A simple and stylish pearl necklace has become the ever present companion to the Chanel suit throughout the decades.
